Menthol detection on tobacco

ABSTRACT

A method for detecting mentholated tobacco, comprising irradiating tobacco containing menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation and observing the tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant. A system and method for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within a product stream is also provided.

RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a divisional of co-pending application Ser.No. 14/495,756, filed on Sep. 24, 2014, which is a continuation-in-partof application Ser. No. 13/842,512, filed on Mar. 15, 2013 (now U.S.Pat. No. 9,073,091), directed to an ON-LINE OIL AND FOREIGN MATTERDETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD, the contents of each are herebyincorporated by reference for all that it discloses.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to methods and systems for detecting thepresence of a flavorant on an agricultural product used in producing aconsumer product. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a methodfor detecting the presence of menthol on tobacco used to produce smokingarticles, and in particular cigarettes and any other smokeable ornon-smokeable tobacco products.

ENVIRONMENT

Menthol is used as a flavorant in many products including, but notlimited to, mentholated cigarettes. Routinely, finished product is“reworked” and reintroduced into raw materials for use in new product.For example, in cigarette manufacturing, cigarettes are routinelydiverted from normal production when issues arise in the manufacturingprocess (e.g. filters not attached correctly, tears in the cigarettepaper, etc.). Those cigarettes are sent back to a “ripper room” torecover the tobacco from the cigarette so that it can be reused again.It is very important that mentholated cigarette tobacco not bereintroduced back into non-mentholated product.

It would be advantageous if detection of menthol in tobacco and tobaccoproducts could be conducted on-line, that is in real time during theproduction process. Heretofore, there has been an absence of an on-linemethod of detecting menthol on tobacco or in a finished cigarette.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, disclosed herein is a method for detecting mentholatedtobacco, comprising irradiating tobacco, especially scrap tobacco,containing menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation andobserving the scrap tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant, such aswherein the fluorescent taggant is a Stokes shifting taggant, or ananti-Stokes shifting taggant, as previously described.

The process can further comprise separating the mentholated tobacco fromnon-mentholated tobacco in the scrap.

Alternatively, the process can be conducted when the tobacco is disposedin a tobacco rod which is irradiated with near infrared radiation from ahigh intensity IR LED light, and reflected IR light is observed using ahigh speed NIR spectrometer sensor tuned to detect fluorescence emittedfrom the taggant.

In another aspect, disclosed herein is a composition comprising tobacco,menthol and a fluorescent taggant, such as wherein the fluorescenttaggant is a Stokes shifting taggant or an anti-Stokes shifting taggant.

Advantageously, the fluorescent taggant is one which upon pyrolysisdecomposes primarily into carbon dioxide and water. Accordingly, thetaggant can be an organic taggant, selected from among pyrazolines,oxinates, benzoxazinones, benzimidazoles, benzthiazoles, thioxanthenes,anthranilic acids, terephthalic acids, aldazines, coumarins, barbituricacids, lumiphores, oxazoles, thiazoles, cumene, stilbenes, andderivatives thereof.

In one form, the organic, fluorescent taggant is one selected from thegroup consisting of quinine, fluorescein, carmine and indocyanine greenand derivatives thereof.

In another form, the fluorescent taggant can be one that absorbsinvisible radiation and emits visible radiation, such as one thatabsorbs ultra violet radiation and emits visible radiation, or one thatabsorbs infrared radiation and emits visible radiation.

In yet another aspect, disclosed herein is a system for detecting andseparating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within aproduct stream. The system includes: (a) a first conveying means fordelivering a product stream; (b) a first detection apparatus fordetecting mentholated tobacco, the first detection apparatus positionedproximate the product stream, the first detection apparatus including ahigh intensity infrared light source directed at the product stream; anda high speed NIR spectrometer sensor tuned to detect a reflected signalfrom a taggant disposed in the menthol of the mentholated tobacco; and(c) a controller for determining whether the product stream containsmentholated tobacco by monitoring signals obtained from the firstdetection apparatus.

In one form, the system further includes a second detection apparatusfor detecting non-tobacco related material, the second detectionapparatus positioned proximate the product stream, the second detectionapparatus including a light source for illuminating the product streamand a detector for detecting light reflected from the product stream,wherein the controller also determines whether the product streamcontains non-tobacco related material by monitoring signals obtainedfrom the second detection apparatus.

In one form, the system further includes at least one deflecting systemresponsive to the signals obtained from the first detection apparatusand/or the second detection apparatus, the at least one deflectingsystem directing fluid under pressure at a portion of the product streamwhen the controller determines that non-tobacco related material ormentholated tobacco is present in the product stream.

In still yet another aspect, disclosed herein is a method for detectingand separating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within aproduct stream, the method comprising the steps of: (a) adding afluorescent taggant to menthol contained in at least one processingmachine; (b) conveying a product stream that has been processed by theat least one processing machine; (c) irradiating the conveyed productstream with infrared radiation; (d) detecting infrared radiation emittedfrom the irradiated product stream due to the presence of thefluorescent taggant and generating a first signal in response thereto;and (e) removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response tothe first signal.

In one form, the method further includes the step of: (f) illuminatingthe conveyed product stream; (g) detecting light reflected from theilluminated product stream; (h) comparing the light reflected from theilluminated product stream with light that would be expected to bereflected from an illuminated product stream free of non-tobacco relatedmaterial, and generating a second signal when the reflected lightindicates the presence of non-tobacco related material; and (i) removinga portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the secondsignal.

In one form, the method further includes the step of causing the productstream to fall under the influence of gravity in a cascade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The forms disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example, and not byway of limitation, in the FIGURE and in which like reference numeralsrefer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 presents a schematic representation of a detection and separationsystem, in accordance herewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects will now be described with reference to specific formsselected for purposes of illustration. It will be appreciated that thespirit and scope of the apparatus, system and methods disclosed hereinare not limited to the selected forms. Moreover, it is to be noted thatthe figures provided herein are not drawn to any particular proportionor scale, and that many variations can be made to the illustrated forms.

Each of the following terms written in singular grammatical form: “a,”“an,” and “the,” as used herein, may also refer to, and encompass, aplurality of the stated entity or object, unless otherwise specificallydefined or stated herein, or, unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. For example, the phrases “a device,” “an assembly,” “amechanism,” “a component,” and “an element,” as used herein, may alsorefer to, and encompass, a plurality of devices, a plurality ofassemblies, a plurality of mechanisms, a plurality of components, and aplurality of elements, respectively.

Each of the following terms: “includes,” “including,” “has,” “'having,”“comprises,” and “comprising,” and, their linguistic or grammaticalvariants, derivatives, and/or conjugates, as used herein, means“including, but not limited to.”

Throughout the illustrative description, the examples, and the appendedclaims, a numerical value of a parameter, feature, object, or dimension,may be stated or described in terms of a numerical range format. It isto be fully understood that the stated numerical range format isprovided for illustrating implementation of the forms disclosed herein,and is not to be understood or construed as inflexibly limiting thescope of the forms disclosed herein.

Moreover, for stating or describing a numerical range, the phrase “in arange of between about a first numerical value and about a secondnumerical value,” is considered equivalent to, and means the same as,the phrase “in a range of from about a first numerical value to about asecond numerical value,” and, thus, the two equivalently meaning phrasesmay be used interchangeably.

It is to be understood that the various forms disclosed herein are notlimited in their application to the details of the order or sequence,and number, of steps or procedures, and sub-steps or sub-procedures, ofoperation or implementation of forms of the method or to the details oftype, composition, construction, arrangement, order and number of thesystem, system sub-units, devices, assemblies, sub-assemblies,mechanisms, structures, components, elements, and configurations, and,peripheral equipment, utilities, accessories, and materials of forms ofthe system, set forth in the following illustrative description,accompanying drawings, and examples, unless otherwise specificallystated herein. The apparatus, systems and methods disclosed herein canbe practiced or implemented according to various other alternative formsand in various other alternative ways.

It is also to be understood that all technical and scientific words,terms, and/or phrases, used herein throughout the present disclosurehave either the identical or similar meaning as commonly understood byone of ordinary skill in the art, unless otherwise specifically definedor stated herein. Phraseology, terminology, and, notation, employedherein throughout the present disclosure are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

Disclosed herein is a method for detecting menthol on tobacco or infinished smoking articles, particularly cigarettes. This method utilizesa taggant that is added to the menthol. An online inspection station canbe used to detect the presence of the taggant. The taggant can bedetected very reliably in smaller quantities and at higher speeds thandetection of menthol without a taggant. Alternatively, mentholatedtobacco can be detected visually.

The taggant is comprised of a material that fluoresces at a particularwavelength of light when excited by light, such as for example byultraviolet light, infrared light or laser light. The wavelengths oflight for excitation and emission are dependent on the type of taggantused.

In one form, the fluorescent taggant is a Stokes shifting taggant or ananti-Stokes shifting taggant.

A Stokes shifting taggant is one which absorbs radiation, such as light,at one wavelength and fluoresces/emits radiation at a differentwavelength. Conventionally, a Stokes shifting taggant will absorbradiation at a given wavelength and fluoresce or reemit the radiation atlower energy/longer wavelengths. An anti-Stokes shifting taggant absorbsradiation at a given wavelength and remits radiation of higherenergy/shorter wavelengths.

In one form of the present invention, the fluorescent taggant absorbsinvisible radiation and emits visible radiation. For example, thefluorescent taggant can be one that absorbs ultra-violet radiation andemits visible radiation, or one that absorbs infrared radiation andemits visible radiation.

Alternatively, the fluorescent taggant can be one which absorbsinvisible radiation at a first wavelength and emits invisible radiationat a second, different wavelength.

Importantly, the fluorescent taggant should be one which upon pyrolysisdecomposes primarily into carbon dioxide and water. Accordingly, thefluorescent taggant is an organic taggant, such as one selected from thegroup consisting of pyrazolines, oxinates, benzoxazinones,benzimidazoles, benzthiazoles, thioxanthenes, anthranilic acids,terephthalic acids, aldazines, coumarins, barbituric acids, lumiphores,oxazoles, thiazoles, cumene, stilbenes, and derivatives thereof.Advantageously, the organic, fluorescent taggant can be selected fromthe group consisting of quinine, fluorescein, carmine and indocyaninegreen and derivatives thereof.

The on-line detection method utilizes a high-speed sensor that is tunedto detect the fluorescent taggant which is added to the menthol. Thetaggant can be added to the menthol prior to being added to the tobaccoproduct. Accordingly, when combined the product is a compositioncomprising tobacco, menthol and a fluorescent taggant.

The high-speed sensor consists of a laser diode that is used to excitethe taggant at its “excitation” frequency. The detector has a sensorthat is tuned to receive light at the taggants “emission” frequency. Ifthe sensor detects the presence of the taggant it will change the stateof its output contacts. These output contacts can be used to stop themanufacturing equipment, set an alarm, and divert the suspect productfrom the normal production flow.

In one form, the detection system utilizes near-infrared (NIR)reflectance, wherein a high intensity IR LED light is directed attobacco products and reflected IR light is gathered and analyzed using ahigh speed NIR spectrometer sensor tuned to detect the reflected signalfrom the taggant added to the tobacco. NIR light can penetrate intovarious materials, such as tobacco rods, to a depth of severalcentimeters, even enabling inspection of finished cigarettes. The highspeed NIR sensor can detect the taggant, and therefore menthol infinished cigarettes at a rate of 15,000 per minute, or even at a rate of20,000 per minute.

The fluorescent taggant can be added to menthol solutions so as toprovide taggant concentrations on tobacco of between about 10 and 100ppm, typically at a concentration of about 50 ppm, based on the weightof the tobacco.

The NIR reflectance detectors can be placed virtually anywhere along theprocess, such that a signal received by a detector at a known locationwill indicate the presence of the taggant in the processed materialalmost immediately, readily indicating the presence of menthol in theproduct.

In another form, the present invention is directed to a method fordetecting mentholated tobacco, comprising irradiating scrap tobaccocontaining menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation andobserving the scrap tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant.

According to this form, rather than utilizing a high speed detectionsystem incorporating sensors, the fluorescence of the taggant isdetected visually by an observer/inspector by irradiating the scraptobacco with a light which emits wavelengths incorporating those of theabsorbance wavelength of the taggant. Accordingly, in this form it isadvantageous to select a fluorescent taggant which emits light atvisible wavelengths.

Thus, a fluorescent taggant is selected from those described above whichabsorbs invisible radiation and emits visible radiation. For example,the fluorescent taggant can be one that absorbs ultra-violet radiationand emits visible radiation, or one that absorbs infrared radiation andemits visible radiation. Of course, under certain circumstances it canbe suitable to select a taggant which absorbs visible light at a firstvisible wavelength and emits visible light at a second visiblewavelength.

Upon detection of mentholated tobacco product, the process furthercomprises separating the mentholated tobacco from non-mentholatedtobacco in the scrap.

In another aspect, an online system for detecting and separatingmentholated tobacco and non-tobacco related material (NTRM) fromnon-mentholated tobacco is provided. Referring now to FIG. 1, one formof a detection and separation system 100, as disclosed herein, is shownschematically. In operation, a product stream, such as a tobacco stream,112 containing non-tobacco related material, such as foil, cellophane,and paper, and/or mentholated tobacco, is delivered from a processingline by conveyor 114. Conveyor 114 is preferably a vibrating inclinedconveyor which vibrates as shown by arrows V. In one form, conveyor 114ends above another conveyor 116, which can be an ordinary conveyor belt,and is spaced vertically above conveyor 114 a sufficient distance toaccommodate the remainder of the system described below. As productstream 112 reaches the end of conveyor 114, it drops under the influenceof gravity in a cascade C to conveyor 116. In one form, because conveyor114 is inclined, the product stream does not have as great a horizontalvelocity when it falls, so that cascade C does not have any significantfront-to-back horizontal spread.

Light or electromagnetic radiation having a first wavelength is providedby an optical scanner 118 and is directed toward the cascade C materialin the product stream 112 by the mirror 120. Light or electromagneticradiation that is reflected, refracted or converted by fluorescent orother emission is returned to the mirror 120, and to the optical scanner118. Some of the light that is not returned interacts with thebackground element 122, where a portion is returned to the mirror 120,and to the optical scanner 118. These portions returned to the mirror120 form first, second and third signals.

Light or electromagnetic radiation that is returned from material in theproduct stream 112 having a wavelength that is longer than the firstwavelength is converted into a first signal by the optical scanner 118.Light or electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength that isreflected by material in the product stream 112 and from the backgroundelement 122 is converted into a second signal by the optical scanner118. Light or electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength thatis scattered by material in the product stream 112 and from thebackground element 122 is converted into a third signal by the opticalscanner 118.

Then, the first, second, and third signals are transformed into a first,second, and third data streams representing the time varying magnitudeof each of the signals, and represent the fluorescence channel,reflectance channel, and scatter channel respectively. The data streamsare presented to processor 124 and processed.

To detect the presence of mentholated tobacco in the product stream 112,cascade C is irradiated with IR radiation from IR source 126, which may,as shown, be directed toward the cascade C material in product stream112 by mirror 130. Radiation emitted by mentholated tobacco in cascade Cof the product stream 112 is returned to the mirror 130, and then to IRdetection device 128. As shown in FIG. 1, the source of radiation 126and the IR detection device 128 may be housed in one unit, althoughseparate units are within the scope of this disclosure. Likewise, otherconfigurations and orientations for irradiating and detecting radiation,with and without mirrors are also contemplated.

In one form, cascade C of the product stream 112 is irradiated with IRradiation at a wavelength of about 805 nm, and instantaneously emits IRradiation at wavelengths at or about 840 nm from any tagged mentholatedtobacco which might be contained in product stream. The emitted IRradiation is in turn detected by IR detection device 128, which sends asignal to processor 124 and is processed.

In one form optical detector 118 has a matrix of electro-opticaldetectors (not shown), which may be a line-scan camera having a lens anda suitable filter, a photomultiplier tube receiver, or other suitabledevice.

When optical detector 118 detects non-tobacco related material, or whenIR detection device 128 detects mentholated tobacco in product stream112, processor 124 sends a signal to ejector manifold 132, which ispositioned in downstream relation to the region illuminated or radiatedby optical detector 118 and irradiated by IR detection device 128.Ejector manifold 132 is in fluid transmission relation to the trajectoryof the product stream 112. The ejector manifold 132 includes a pluralityof ejector nozzles 134, which are individually directed and controlledto selectively remove undesirable product material 136 from the productstream 112. The ejector nozzles 134 act as conduits for directing fluidpulses to dislodge or otherwise re-direct product material traveling inthe trajectory. Individual ejector nozzles 134 contained in the ejectormanifold 132 are driven by a plurality of removal signals, which may beprovided by processor 124.

Ejector nozzles 134 are connected to a source of high pressure fluidwhich is preferably air at approximately 80 psi, although other gases,such as steam, or liquids, such as water, can be used. When one ofejector nozzles 134 opens in response to a signal, a blast of air A isdirected against that portion of cascade C in which the non-tobaccorelated material or mentholated tobacco was detected to force thatportion 136 of the product stream and/or non-tobacco related material tofall into receptacle 138 for manual sorting, if necessary. In the caseof non-mentholated tobacco, it may be returned to the product processingline upstream or downstream of system 100, depending on whether or notrescanning is desired. Alternatively, portion 136 could be deflected toa conveyor that removes it to another area for processing.

As may be appreciated, system 100 allows tobacco to be processed atgreater rates than a system in which the tobacco is scanned on a beltconveyer. This is because when product is optically scanned on a belt,it has to be in a “monolayer,” or single layer of particles, for all ofthe particles on the belt to be visible to the optical detector 118.However, as the tobacco or other material falls in cascade C, relativevertical motion between the various particles of tobacco and non-tobaccorelated material is induced by the turbulence of the falling stream, sothere is a greater probability that a particular piece of non-tobaccorelated material will be visible to optical detector 118 at some pointin its fall. Relative vertical motion also results if the non-tobaccorelated material is significantly lighter or heavier than tobacco sothat it has greater or less air resistance as it falls. Relativevertical motion is enhanced by the vibration of conveyor 114 whichbrings lighter material to the surface of the tobacco before it falls incascade C, making the lighter material, which is usually non-tobaccorelated material, easier to detect, as in a monolayer.

The inclination of conveyor 114, in reducing the horizontal spread ofcascade C as discussed above, also enhances relative vertical motionbecause the particles in cascade C have little or no horizontal velocitycomponent. Any horizontal velocity component that a particle has when itfalls off conveyor 114 is small because conveyor 114 is inclined, andair resistance quickly reduces the horizontal motion to near zero. Therelative vertical motion allows a relatively thicker layer of tobacco orother material to be scanned, so that a greater volume can be scannedper unit of scanning area. Given a constant rate of area scanned perunit time, the increased volume scanned per unit area translates into ahigher volume of tobacco or other material scanned per unit time.

In one form, system 100, is provided with a user interface 140 thatenables an operator (not shown) to observe and control variousoperational aspects of the system 100. The user interface 140 mayinclude a CRT or LCD panel for output display. For input, the userinterface 140 may include a keyboard, touch-screen or other input meansknown in the art. The operator can view representations of the articlesin the product stream 112 as they are processed in system 100 on theuser interface 140. Yet further, the user interface 140 provides a meansfor the operator to configure the operation of system 100 to make adetermination between acceptable product and undesirable product. Datagathered by the user interface 140 and provided to the user interfaceare transported as user interface data 142.

Suitable optics and control circuitry for use with optical detector 118are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,144, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. Other optics and control circuitry arecontemplated for use herein and are within the scope of the instantdisclosure.

In operation, non-tobacco related material is detected by comparing itsreflectivity, which depends on a combination of color and surfaceproperties, at a given wavelength to a reference level set above theknown reflectivity of tobacco at that wavelength, so that even aparticle of non-tobacco related material of the same color as tobaccowill be detected if its reflectivity is higher than that of tobacco. Theoptical detector 118 is sensitive to light with a wavelength in therange of from about 200 nm to about 1300 nm. The sensitivity of opticaldetector 118 to a particular non-tobacco related material or group ofnon-tobacco related materials can be enhanced by using filters andwindows which transmit those wavelengths that are preferentiallyreflected by the non-tobacco related materials as compared to thetobacco and which absorb all other wavelengths. The effect of this is togreatly reduce the noise in the electronic signal from the detector.

As may be appreciated, when there is no concern that NTRM may comprise apart of the tobacco stream being processed, the system of FIG. 1 may bemodified to exclude the components required to detect NTRM. In thisform, components including optical detector 118, mirror 120 andbackground element 122 may be eliminated from system 100.

All or a portion of the methods, systems and subsystems of the exemplaryforms can be conveniently implemented using one or more general purposecomputer systems, microprocessors, digital signal processors,microcontrollers, and the like, programmed according to the teachings ofthe exemplary forms disclosed herein, as will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the computer and software arts.

Appropriate software can be readily prepared by programmers of ordinaryskill based on the teachings of the exemplary forms, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the software art. Further, the devicesand subsystems of the exemplary forms can be implemented on the WorldWide Web. In addition, the devices and subsystems of the exemplary formscan be implemented by the preparation of application-specific integratedcircuits or by interconnecting an appropriate network of conventionalcomponent circuits, as will be appreciated by those skilled in theelectrical art(s). Thus, the exemplary forms are not limited to anyspecific combination of hardware circuitry and/or software.

Stored on any one or on a combination of computer readable media, theexemplary forms disclosed herein can include software for controllingthe devices and subsystems of the exemplary forms, for driving thedevices and subsystems of the exemplary forms, for enabling the devicesand subsystems of the exemplary forms to interact with a human user, andthe like. Such software can include, but is not limited to, devicedrivers, firmware, operating systems, development tools, applicationssoftware, and the like. Such computer readable media further can includethe computer program product of a form disclosed herein for performingall or a portion (if processing is distributed) of the processingperformed in implementing the methods disclosed herein. Computer codedevices of the exemplary forms disclosed herein can include any suitableinterpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited toscripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), Javaclasses and applets, complete executable programs, Common Object RequestBroker Architecture (CORBA) objects, and the like. Moreover, parts ofthe processing of the exemplary forms disclosed herein can bedistributed for better performance, reliability, cost, and the like.

As stated above, the methods, systems, and subsystems of the exemplaryforms can include computer readable medium or memories for holdinginstructions programmed according to the forms disclosed herein and forholding data structures, tables, records, and/or other data describedherein. Computer readable medium can include any suitable medium thatparticipates in providing instructions to a processor for execution.Such a medium can take many forms, including but not limited to,non-volatile media, volatile media, transmission media, and the like.Non-volatile media can include, for example, optical or magnetic disks,magneto-optical disks, and the like. Volatile media can include dynamicmemories, and the like. Transmission media can include coaxial cables,copper wire, fiber optics, and the like. Transmission media also cantake the form of acoustic, optical, electromagnetic waves, and the like,such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) communications,infrared (IR) data communications, and the like. Common forms ofcomputer-readable media can include, for example, a floppy disk, aflexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other suitable magneticmedium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other suitable optical medium, punchcards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any other suitable physicalmedium with patterns of holes or other optically recognizable indicia, aRAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other suitable memory chip orcartridge, a carrier wave or any other suitable medium from which acomputer can read.

The forms disclosed herein, as illustratively described and exemplifiedhereinabove, have several beneficial and advantageous aspects,characteristics, and features. The forms disclosed herein successfullyaddress and overcome shortcomings and limitations, and widen the scope,of currently known teachings with respect to detecting mentholatedtobacco.

In the event that any patents, patent applications, or other referencesare incorporated by reference herein and define a term in a manner orare otherwise inconsistent with either the non-incorporated portion ofthe present disclosure or with any of the other incorporated references,the non-incorporated portion of the present disclosure shall control,and the term or incorporated disclosure therein shall only control withrespect to the reference in which the term is defined and/or theincorporated disclosure was originally present.

As used herein the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that theelement, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intendedto perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and“configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element,component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing agiven function but that the element, component, and/or other subjectmatter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized,programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function.It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that elements,components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as beingadapted to perform a particular function may additionally oralternatively be described as being configured to perform that function,and vice versa.

Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of apparatus and methods accordingto the present disclosure are presented in the following enumeratedparagraphs. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that anindividual step of a method recited herein, including in the followingenumerated paragraphs, may additionally or alternatively be referred toas a “step for” performing the recited action.

PCT1. A method for detecting mentholated tobacco, comprising irradiatingtobacco containing menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation andobserving the tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant.

PCT2. The method of paragraph PCT1, wherein the fluorescent taggant is aStokes shifting taggant.

PCT3. The method of paragraph PCT1, wherein the fluorescent taggant isan anti-Stokes shifting taggant.

PCT4. The method of any of paragraphs PCT1-PCT3, wherein the fluorescenttaggant is one which upon pyrolysis decomposes primarily into carbondioxide and water.

PCT5. The method of any of paragraphs PCT1-PCT4, wherein the fluorescenttaggant is an organic taggant.

PCT6. The method of paragraph PCT5, wherein the organic taggant is oneselected from the group consisting of pyrazolines, oxinates,benzoxazinones, benzimidazoles, benzthiazoles, thioxanthenes,anthranilic acids, terephthalic acids, aldazines, coumarins, barbituricacids, lumiphores, oxazoles, thiazoles, cumene, stilbenes, andderivatives thereof.

PCT7. The method of paragraph PCT5, wherein the organic, fluorescenttaggant is selected from the group consisting of quinine, fluorescein,carmine and indocyanine green and derivatives thereof.

PCT8. The method of any of paragraphs PCT1-PCT7, wherein the tobacco isscrap tobacco and further comprising separating the mentholated tobaccofrom non-mentholated tobacco in the scrap.

PCT9. The method of any of paragraphs PCT1-PCT8, wherein the tobacco isdisposed in a tobacco rod which is irradiated with near infraredradiation from a high intensity IR LED light, and reflected IR light isobserved using a high speed NIR spectrometer sensor tuned to detectfluorescence emitted from the taggant.

PCT10. A composition comprising tobacco, menthol and a fluorescenttaggant.

PCT11. The composition of paragraph PCT10, wherein the fluorescenttaggant is a Stokes shifting taggant or an anti-Stokes shifting taggant.

PCT12. The composition of paragraph PCT11 or PCT 12, wherein thefluorescent taggant is one which upon pyrolysis decomposes primarilyinto carbon dioxide and water.

PCT 13. A system for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco fromnon-mentholated tobacco within a product stream, comprising: (a) a firstconveying means for delivering a product stream; (b) a first detectionapparatus for detecting mentholated tobacco, the first detectionapparatus positioned proximate the product stream, the first detectionapparatus including a high intensity infrared light source directed atthe product stream; and a high speed NIR spectrometer sensor tuned todetect a reflected signal from a taggant disposed in the menthol of thementholated tobacco; and (c) a controller for determining whether theproduct stream contains mentholated tobacco by monitoring signalsobtained from the first detection apparatus.

PCT14. The system of paragraph PCT13, further comprising a seconddetection apparatus for detecting non-tobacco related material, thesecond detection apparatus positioned proximate the product stream, thesecond detection apparatus including a light source for illuminating theproduct stream and a detector for detecting light reflected from theproduct stream, wherein the controller also determines whether theproduct stream contains non-tobacco related material by monitoringsignals obtained from the second detection apparatus.

PCT15. The system of paragraph PCT14, further comprising at least onedeflecting system responsive to the signals obtained from the firstdetection apparatus and/or the second detection apparatus, the at leastone deflecting system directing fluid under pressure at a portion of theproduct stream when the controller determines that non-tobacco relatedmaterial or mentholated tobacco is present in the product stream.

PCT16. The system of paragraph PCT14 or PCT 15, wherein the fluid sodirected is effective to remove the non-tobacco related material ormentholated tobacco.

PCT17. The system of any of paragraphs PCT13-PCT16, wherein the taggantis a fluorescent Stokes-shifting taggant, which absorbs radiation at afirst wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength, differentfrom the first wavelength.

PCT18. A method for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco fromnon-mentholated tobacco within a product stream, the method comprisingthe steps of: (a) adding a fluorescent taggant to menthol contained inat least one processing machine; (b) conveying a product stream that hasbeen processed by the at least one processing machine; (c) irradiatingthe conveyed product stream with infrared radiation; (d) detectinginfrared radiation emitted from the irradiated product stream due to thepresence of the fluorescent taggant and generating a first signal inresponse thereto; and (e) removing a portion of the conveyed productstream in response to the first signal.

PCT19. The method of paragraph PCT18, further including the steps of (e)illuminating the conveyed product stream; (f) detecting light reflectedfrom the illuminated product stream; (g) comparing the light reflectedfrom the illuminated product stream with light that would be expected tobe reflected from an illuminated product stream free of non-tobaccorelated material, and generating a second signal when the reflectedlight indicates the presence of non-tobacco related material; and (h)removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to thesecond signal.

PCT20. The method of paragraph PCT19, further including the step ofcausing the product stream to fall under the influence of gravity in acascade.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The containers and processes disclosed herein are applicable to theconsumer products industry.

It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multipledistinct inventions with independent utility. While each of theseinventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific formsthereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered ina limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matterof the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations andsubcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/orproperties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the claims recite “a” or“a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should beunderstood to include incorporation of one or more such elements,neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certaincombinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of thedisclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodiedin other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions,elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of thepresent claims or presentation of new claims in this or a relatedapplication. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to adifferent invention or directed to the same invention, whetherdifferent, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims,are also regarded as included within the subject matter of theinventions of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising tobacco, menthol and a fluorescent taggant.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant is a Stokes shifting taggant.
 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant is an anti-Stokes shifting taggant.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant is one which upon pyrolysis decomposes primarily into carbon dioxide and water.
 5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the fluorescent taggant is an organic taggant.
 6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the organic taggant is one selected from the group consisting of pyrazolines, oxinates, benzoxazinones, benzimidazoles, benzthiazoles, thioxanthenes, anthranilic acids, terephthalic acids, aldazines, coumarins, barbituric acids, lumiphores, oxazoles, thiazoles, cumene, stilbenes, and derivatives thereof.
 7. The composition of claim 5, wherein the organic, fluorescent taggant is selected from the group consisting of quinine, fluorescein, carmine and indocyanine green and derivatives thereof.
 8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant absorbs invisible radiation and emits visible radiation.
 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant absorbs ultra violet radiation and emits visible radiation.
 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant absorbs infrared radiation and emits visible radiation.
 11. A system for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within a product stream, comprising: (a) a first conveying means for delivering a product stream; (b) a first detection apparatus for detecting mentholated tobacco, the first detection apparatus positioned proximate the product stream, the first detection apparatus including a high intensity infrared light source directed at the product stream, and a high speed NIR spectrometer sensor tuned to detect a reflected signal from a taggant disposed in the menthol of the mentholated tobacco; and (c) a controller for determining whether the product stream contains mentholated tobacco by monitoring signals obtained from the first detection apparatus.
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a second detection apparatus for detecting non-tobacco related material, the second detection apparatus positioned proximate the product stream, the second detection apparatus including a light source for illuminating the product stream and a detector for detecting light reflected from the product stream, wherein the controller also determines whether the product stream contains non-tobacco related material by monitoring signals obtained from the second detection apparatus.
 13. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one deflecting system responsive to the signals obtained from the first detection apparatus and/or the second detection apparatus, the at least one deflecting system directing fluid under pressure at a portion of the product stream when the controller determines that non-tobacco related material or mentholated tobacco is present in the product stream.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the fluid so directed is effective to remove the non-tobacco related material or mentholated tobacco.
 15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second conveying means located below and spaced vertically from the first conveying means for further conveying the product stream from the first conveying means, wherein the product stream is transferred from the first conveying means to the second conveying means by falling therebetween under the influence of gravity in a cascade.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the cascade is a turbulent cascade.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first conveying means is an inclined vibrating conveyor.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the fluid is a gas.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the gas is air.
 20. The system of claim 11, wherein the taggant is a fluorescent Stokes-shifting taggant, which absorbs radiation at a first wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength.
 21. The system of claim 11, wherein the fluorescent taggant is an anti-Stokes shifting taggant.
 22. The system of claim 11, wherein the fluorescent taggant is one which upon pyrolysis decomposes primarily into carbon dioxide and water.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the fluorescent taggant is an organic taggant.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the organic taggant is one selected from the group consisting of pyrazolines, oxinates, benzoxazinones, benzimidazoles, benzthiazoles, thioxanthenes, anthranilic acids, terephthalic acids, aldazines, coumarins, barbituric acids, lumiphores, oxazoles, thiazoles, cumene, stilbenes, and derivatives thereof.
 25. The system of claim 23, wherein the organic, fluorescent taggant is selected from the group consisting of quinine, fluorescein, carmine and indocyanine green and derivatives thereof.
 26. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant is present at a concentration on the tobacco between about 10 ppm and 100 ppm. 